Exploratory study of self-reported disability, accommodations, and mistreatment among residents at an academic medical center.

The validation of measurement instruments—such as questionnaires, scales, and standardized tools—is essential to ensure the validity and comparability of research findings across different contexts []. This process typically involves the cultural and linguistic adaptation of the instruments, as well as the evaluation of their psychometric properties within specific target populations [–]. Beyond the technical aspects, these studies involve the participation of human subjects, which necessitates adherence to, and transparent reporting of, fundamental ethical principles []. According to the Declaration of Helsinki and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) guidelines, all research involving humans, regardless of the perceived level of risk, must undergo independent ethical review and obtain informed consent from participants [, ]. However, several studies have shown that ethical requirements are not always adequately reported. For instance, up to 27% of social science articles and 11% of health science articles failed to mention ethical approval despite involving identifiable human data []. Similarly, reviews of COVID-19 research have revealed deficiencies in reporting informed consent, ethical approval, and data protection measures, suggesting a broader pattern of underreporting across disciplines and contexts []. These reporting omissions undermine the transparency and credibility of research practices and may also compromise the adequate protection of study participants [].